Title

Authors

Date of this Version

5-2012

Comments

A thesis presented to the faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Degree of Master of Science, Major: Architecture, under the supervision of Professor Betsy Gabb. Lincoln, Nebraska: May 2012

Copyright 2012 Bethany J Friedow

Abstract

The intent of this thesis is to provide an introductory guide for interior designers wishing to conduct research on various aspects of the built environment. It is tailored toward designers working in the healthcare field, but the concepts discussed can be translated into any realm of interior design or architecture.

Research is important to the profession and should play a role in every design project, particularly in the healthcare market. Credible design research will continue to elevate the profession and strengthen the credibility of design practitioners and firms who can successfully conduct a research program. Among the key areas of challenge are the gap between the producers of scientific evidence and its intended consumers and the lack of standardized terms, definitions, metrics, and measurement tools that are commonly accepted and understood by designers. (Debajyoti 2011) These factors combined result in difficulty translating research findings into design knowledge, difficulty developing a centralized evidence base for design, and difficulty making informed predictions based on research findings.

It is hoped that the resulting guidelines for designers be straightforward enough to apply to interior design practice without sacrificing the elements essential for the thorough scientific evaluation of evidence.